Pauline's Blog

Parties aren't for everyone and some dogs and cats don't like the loud noise that comes along with New Year's Eve celebrations. Here are seven tips to help lessen your pet's anxiety.1. Confine your pet to a small space. Dogs that are used to a kennel or a crate find that space safe and secure. If you have a kitty cat you may want to lock them in one room, so you know where they are and they don't escape out a door or a window.2. Positive noise will help distract your pet. A great soundtrack to help them get used to the noise of fireworks is the Star Wars Trilogy. You can start playing this music well in advance and turn up the volume slightly to get them used to the noise of firecrackers going off. Even just having a TV or radio on helps distract them from the outdoor noise.3. There are natural calming therapies for pets. Essential oils such as lavender oil can be sprayed on the bedding area. A product called Rescue Remedy is a homeopathic tincture that can be squirted in your dog or cat's mouth. For cats, there is Feliway spray which is a synthetic copy of the facial pheromone that cats use to mark their territory. These pheromones help to relax them.4. A fourth tip is to exercise. Drain your pet of any extra energy by playing with them or going for a nice long walk with your dog.5. A fifth trick is to distract them with a toy or games. Treat-filled Kongs are an excellent way to keep your dog busy. A fresh bottle of catnip or a new toy for your kitty cat will occupy them and take their mind off the noise that's outside.6. Go to a friend's in the country. If you're in a warm place, you could always go camping somewhere in the quiet to avoid all of the commotions outside.7. Finally, don't ignore your pet. Comfort and reassure them. It is important that you remain calm. When you stay calm, that will help them be calm.

You should bathe your Frenchie as often as needed (when it's stinky). That could mean as often as every two weeks. In between grooming, you can use unscented baby wipes to clean the folds in front the eyes or purchase any speciality products safe for the eye area. When choosing your shampoo, make sure you are using one that is for dogs or puppies, if it is a puppy. Do not use baby shampoo or human shampoo because the pH balance is different and you may end up with some dry skin and dandruff.One trick I like using is to have a separate empty bottle for my dog's shampoo. You could save a dish soap bottle, for example. Clean it out, make sure it's empty, add warm water almost to the top, and then put in your shampoo (approximately an eighth of the bottle), and give it a shake. Do not do it the other way around. I know this sounds obvious, but if you put your shampoo in first and then add warm water, you're going to have bubbles everywhere. Having diluted your shampoo makes it so much easier to spread over the dog and work into a lather instead of having big blobs of shampoo on the dog.It's really nice if your shower nozzle reaches your French Bulldog but they’re short so it may not. Maybe your Frenchie will sit in the sink, and you have a handheld sprayer with which you can rinse him or her. If you don’t have a handheld nozzle, just fill your bathtub with about six inches of water and use a pitcher to pour over your Frenchie to rinse off. Make sure you get off all the shampoo. Once all the shampoo is rinsed off, the coat should not feel slippery at all. If you leave shampoo residue in their coat, their skin will get itchy. When you're rinsing your dog keep in mind he or she can close their eyes but not their nose, so you want to cup your spare hand over the muzzle protecting any water from running into the nose. If your dog wants to shake, let them. Moisture in ear canals can cause ear infections, so that is why it’s important to allow them to shake. It is the way they get any water out of their ears. Usually they will give you a warning they're about to shake by lowering their head in preparation. Perhaps hold a towel in front of your face, so you don't get soaked too. Once your dog is well rinsed, you can follow by using a conditioner or a leave-in conditioning spray, again making sure it is specifically for dogs. When using leave-in products, make sure you're not adding that product while your dog is still soaking wet because your product is just going to drip off the dog. If you wish, finish with some dog cologne.

It is important to crate train your puppy when you get it home from the breeder. Crate training allows the puppy a haven away from toddlers or other animals. It is part of puppy's instinctive behavior to enjoy being in a crate, much like wild dogs value the safety of a cave.

Even if you don't plan on using a kennel once your dog is older, it is essential for them to relax in a crate in the event you want to travel by air. Whether your dog is small enough to fit in a carrier under the seat or must be transported in cargo, it will need to be comfortable being in a confined space.

If your dog stays at the vet for any reason or to the groomer, you will want it to feel contented in a crate.

Should you permit the puppy to sleep in your bed, it is possible if you're a sound sleeper to roll on your puppy and smother it. How horrible would that be? Puppies can even suffocate on the sheet alone. They are safer in their crates. Once they're bigger you can sleep with them if you choose, and not have to worry.

A great trick for getting your puppy accustomed to its kennel is to ask the breeders to provide a baby blanket on which the mother and siblings have slept. Their smells will be on the blanket and make the puppy more comfortable and secure in its own environment. Put the kennel on a chair or your bedside table and if the puppy cries through the night, stick your fingers through the crate door to say hello. Hopefully with a little reassurance, you and your puppy will get a good night’s sleep.

When puppies are young and you are trying to house-train, it is important to use a kennel small enough for your puppy only to be able to turn around. This may mean you borrow a small kennel, or purchase two. If you give puppies enough room to go off and relieve themselves in an area and go back to sleep in a different area, they will. Kennel training is invaluable for house-breaking. It teaches them how to hold their bladder. You may have a couple of rough nights, but once your puppy is used to sleeping in a kennel, you will be grateful for years to come.

When puppies are older, leave the kennel door open and they will go in and out as they please. It is their own sanctuary and never to be used as punishment. We all need a little space we can call our own from time to time, even dogs.

Kennel training is the best place to start when it comes to teaching your puppy how to hold its bladder. Your kennel should never be too big. You may need to buy two kennels unless you can borrow a small one temporarily. If a puppy has too much room, they will use part of the kennel to sleep in and the other part to relieve themselves. This is not what we want. Keep the kennel small enough that the puppy only has room to turn around and lay down. The puppy will be able to hold its bladder for a few hours at a time. Expect to get up at least once through the night when you first take your puppy home. A good rule of thumb is a puppy can hold its bladder for one hour longer than its age in months. So if your puppy is three months old, four hours may be as long as it can go without going outside for a break. Four months old, five hours and so on. Right up to 8-9 hours or longer. Don’t push it. If you are having accidents, take a step back.

As soon as morning comes, make sure to take your puppy outside right away for a poo and a pee. They always need to relieve themselves as soon as they wake up. During the day, while they are loose in the house with you watch for signs they need to go outside. Look for circling. When your puppy needs to eliminate, they look for the perfect spot by turning around once or twice.

If you see your puppy wandering off to be alone, there is a good possibility that they're looking for a spot to go poo or pee. You must be diligent with this and keep a very close eye on your puppy at all times if you want to win the battle. Another time that they always need to eliminate is right after they eat. Anytime they have a meal, immediately afterwards, take them outside. You can use the words “go potty”, “empty”, “go pee”, “go poo” or whatever you choose. Regardless of what words you use, say them consistently.

Don't forget to praise your puppy. We want to reward them with the utmost excitement for the thing that they did. How wonderful it was that they went poo and pee outside. We only want to reward the good behavior and ignore the bad. It just confuses them when you find a “present” and scold them. It may look like they feel guilty but they are cowering from your body language and you’re only teaching them to be afraid of you when you’re angry. If you catch them in the act just grab them, pick them up, and take them outside. Tell them, "This is where you go potty." If you repeatedly take them to the same area you shouldn't have any problems with house training.

If you take your puppy outside to go poo or pee and after it has done its job you immediately turn around and bring it back inside, your puppy will quickly learn to hold its urine or bowel movements and not go right away. This is because it learns as soon as we're done, we're going back inside. Stay longer afterwards. It's way more interesting outside for your puppy with all the smells in the air and birds chirping and bugs flying around than it is inside. This way they won't associate "going to the washroom" with having to go right back in. They are smart!

Dog shed can become quite an annoyance especially for people who have allergies. Now that dogs are indoors more, they don't typically just have the twice-a-year shed that used to be the case. With our indoor lighting and heat-regulated homes these days, dogs pretty well shed all year round instead of just in spring and summer. They still have major sheds in spring and summer but we do have to contend with shed now on a daily basis. One of the best ways to reduce shed is by regular grooming. You can either brush your dog and go over it with a fine-tooth comb or take your dog to the groomers and have them bath your dog. The groomer’s use of the forced air dryer will generally blow out all of the shed. The combination of the warm water from the bath, the air dryer and a bit of stress (which also will stimulate a shed), going to your groomer is a great solution. If you decide to use a self-serve dog wash, after you do the wash and before you leave the station one of the tricks is to make sure your dog is bone dry. Otherwise what can happen if the coat is still damp when you take your dog home, once the coat is dry all of that shed will let go and it will let go in your house. This really defeats the purpose. Another way of reducing shed is by adding essential fatty acids, especially your omega-3s, to your dog's diet. A poor diet can contribute to itchy skin, dander and hair loss. Feeding your dog fish oils, particularly wild salmon oil, is one way to effectively increase the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in your dog's system. The result is increased immunity and a shiny, healthier coat that is thicker and sheds less. Be sure to choose a quality fish oil for dogs which is free of pollutants and heavy metals such as mercury.

Which oil should I give my dog? Coconut oil or salmon oil? The truth is, both oils have nutritional assets to offer your dog.

Salmon OilSalmon oil, a long chain fatty acid, is an Omega-3 polyunsaturated fat. Fish oils are comprised of essential fatty acids EPA and DHA. Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are fatty acids that dogs must get from their diet because they are required for good health but cannot be synthesized by animals (or humans). So it is important then to supplement your dog’s diet with these beneficial fats.

Salmon Oil has proven to support older dogs as well as puppies. Because DHA is a building block of tissue in the brain and retina of the eye, younger dogs are helped by promoted brain and eye development. Older dogs can benefit from salmon oil's anti-inflammatory abilities. Studies show that Omega-3 fatty acids may help dogs with osteoarthritis by improving mobility and reducing inflammation and joint pain.

Due to the ability of Omega 3’s to improve immune function, adding salmon oil reduces skin allergies and allows for fewer problems with dry, itchy skin. Because it nourishes the skin and coat, it decreases shedding. Perhaps the feature you will find most noticeable within a very short time is the healthy skin and glistening coat of your pet.

Omega 3’s not only improve immune function but also regulate the immune system for dogs with allergies or autoimmune disease.

Omega 3’s provide support for dogs with kidney disease. Additionally, they aid in the prevention of diabetic neuropathy. Also, salmon oil helps achieve weight loss in overweight dogs. And energy and stamina are renewed by the use of fish oil.

Fish oil should be protected from light, heat, and air. Store liquid fish oil in the refrigerator. Purchase amounts that can be used within two months to avoid rancidity.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil, a medium-chain fatty acid, is a saturated fat and contains mainly lauric acid, caprylic acid, and capric acid. Saturated fats are stable and not prone to oxidation or free-radical formation. For years, we've been told that saturated fats are bad for us and for our pets but it's now accepted and known they are indeed beneficial. To date, there are over 1,500 studies proving coconut oil to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet.Coconut oil is loaded with saturated fats, which actually do not harm the blood lipid profile like previously thought. Saturated fats raise HDL (the good) cholesterol and change the LDL cholesterol to a benign subtype.The fatty acids and breakdown products in coconut oil can kill harmful pathogens, like bacteria, viruses and fungi, potentially helping to prevent infections.

Coconut oil is easy to digest. It may help improve your dog’s bad breath!

Coconut oil does not need to be refrigerated. It is very stable with a shelf life of at least two years.

When it comes to salmon oil and coconut oil, we can’t suggest one is better than the other. They both contain different types of fat with different properties. We recommend using both, but not too much. Perhaps give the two oils at different feeding times. Be sure to follow dosage instructions by the manufacturer. Too much oil can cause weight gain, loose stool, and diarrhea; also, can lead to a vitamin E deficiency if you don’t supplement with additional vitamin E. Because fish oil is a natural blood thinner and anticoagulant, the supplement decreases the formation of blood clots. If your pet is going to have surgery, it’s best to stop the oil for a week or two before and after the operation.

And all oils are not created equally. If the coconut oil is partially hydrogenated, it is just as harmful as other highly processed oils containing trans fats. And refined oil is extracted from chemically bleached and deodorized coconut meat.Look for Virgin coconut oil, removed from the fruit of fresh mature coconuts without using high temperatures or chemicals.Look for Salmon Oil from clean and sustainably fished sources. It should be fully certified to be 100% pure; non-GMO; free of PCBs, heavy metals, pesticides, and dioxins, ensuring care, freshness, and quality all the way from the sea to your pet’s food bowl.

As dogs age, often the cartilage surface of their joints begins to thin and die off. This process releases enzymes which causes inflammation of the joint and the loss of joint fluid resulting in on-going pain and stiffness. There are many supplements on the market that I'm not going to get into right now. That would be something you should discuss with your holistic veterinarian. I will recommend fish oil as the single most important supplement proven to provide the omega-3 fatty that help reduce inflammation.

Another great thing for your dog would be giving it massages. You can watch many of the YouTube videos on how to stimulate blood flow. Also, warm compresses on the joints can be very soothing. Of course you'll want to reduce the amount of exercise but not limit it. Swimming is a wonderful exercise that can help as long as it's not overdone. It's a good idea to consult your veterinarian on which would be the best forms of exercise for your dog but really keep in mind low impact. A light walk and swimming are really the best ways to prevent obesity and get the blood circulating to those stiff joints.

It's also important to keep down your dog's weight. Another one of the many benefits of salmon oil is its ability to help with weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight. You should never be able to see the dog's ribs but always be able to feel them. This is the easy guide for weight, knowing that your dog is at the right weight. Salmon oil is beneficial no matter what type of diet you're feeding. If you're feeding kibble, just pour the salmon oil in a teaspoon and mix it in with the kibble and do the same on raw food if that's what you're feeding. Studies have been published proving using fish oil as a treatment for canine arthritis does improve the symptoms.​ Lastly, I would recommend pain relief. You would have to talk to your vet about that, or your holistic veterinarian. There are natural anti-inflammatories and other alternative therapies. Aside from the massage, some people have had success with acupuncture for arthritis. I really like a product called Traumacare. It is homeopathic and can be found at your local health food store

Fish Oil Benefits for DogsAdvanced research and case studies continue to show evidence of the benefits of fish oil for dogs. Omega 3 fish oil supplements are among the most commonly used supplements in all of veterinary medicine.

Salmon Oil for Dogs helps dogs stay healthy longer. It has shown beneficial results in both older dogs as well as puppies. Younger dogs can benefit from promoted brain and eye development. Older dogs can benefit from Salmon Oil's anti-inflammatory effects in helping with arthritis and joint function.

Proven Omega-3 fish oil benefits include:

Decreases inflammation

Improves immune function

Reduces skin allergies; Less Problems with Dry, Itchy Skin

Decreases shedding; Healthy skin & glistening coat

Lessens joint pain

Regulates immune system for dogs with allergies or autoimmune disease

Fights heart disease and Lowers blood pressure and triglycerides

Acts in promoting neuron development

Provides support for with dogs with kidney disease

Helps achieve weight loss in overweight dogs

Aids in the prevention of diabetic neuropathy

Supports cellular health; Helps promote cancer cell differentiation

Renews energy and stamina

Fish Oil Benefits for Cats

Salmon Oil is for cats as well. It reduces inflammation and is good for the heart, joints, brain function and overall cellular health. It is great for skin and coat health and lessens shedding which may result in fewer hairballs since your cat won’t ingest as many loose hairs while grooming.

Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are important fatty acids for humans and their dog and cat companions because they cannot be made in the body. Daily supplementation with BulletPooch salmon oil helps support optimal health for your pet companion.